Puzzle game



p 4, 1968 D. E. ADAMS 3,402,934

PUZZLE GAME Filed Aug. 18, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fig.

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INVENTOR Don's E. Adams ,Sept. 24, 1968 v D. E. ADAMS 3,402,934

PUZZLE GAME Filed Aug. 18, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet a K EACH SET EQUALLYDEVIDED IN FOUR COLORS b 8 m .2 2:3 7 I6 2: 13 F7 4i 4 m w CI 2 33 4 LEEI6 Z2 4 MI 4 a 4 m a To 29.

Fig. 7 64 1% a $4 62 22 5a 22 5a INVENTOR Dar/s 5 Adams ATTORNEY UnitedStates Patent 3,402,934 PUZZLE GAME Doris E. Adams, Rye, N .Y., assignorof one-half to Harriet L. Foster, Larchmont, N.Y. Filed Aug. 18, 1966,S'er. No. 573,404 Claims. (Cl. 273-156) This invention relates to apuzzle game, and has for an object to provide an improved puzzle game,which may be played by one player, possibly first as a puzzle indetermining that one or more solutions are possible, and then as apuzzle game, in a contest with time, and also may be played by two tofour players competitively or against time.

A further object of this invention is to provide a puzzle game whereinthere are a number of types of puzzle targets to be achieved, andwherein there may be more than one solution for each solution, andwherein in some certain puzzle targets, there are a great number ofpossible solutions.

A further object of this invention is to provide a puzzle game includinga rectangular and preferably, but not necessarily, square game board,the game board having four similar playing areas, each area being in theshape of an isosceles trapezoid, each trapezoid area having a pluralityof playing lanes, preferably eight in number, each lane beingsuccesively shorter in length from the longer outermost parallel side tothe shorter innermost parallel side.

A further object of this invention is to providea puzzle game having anumber of sets of elongated playing pieces of different shapes and sizeswhich, when the puzzle is solved for any puzzle target, completely coverall the playing lanes and provide the particular target puzzle intended.

A further object of this invention is to provide the different size andshape playing pieces with a multiplicity of colors, preferably four,with a set of playing pieces of each color, and with some of the playingpieces duplicated one or more times, which, in the case of a squaregameboard, with fourteen different playing pieces to a set, has a totalof one hundred twenty-eight playing pieces.

Still a further object of this invention is to provide playing piecessomewhat resembling jig-saw playing pieces, each individual piece beingprovided at each end with projections or recesses extending atforty-five degrees to the edge from which they extend or recess, someextending from or recessing into the end edges, others extending from orrecessing into the side edges at the ends of the piece.

A further object of this invention is to provide playing pieces inaccordance with the foregoing objects, which playing pieces may beplaced on the gameboard to provide prescribed puzzle targets such as,for example, each playing area being covered by one solid color, or bysingle lines of solid color, each line being different, or by pairs oflines of solid color different from the other pairs of lines in the samearea, or by each line being of diiferent colored pieces, or further,with the further target that the same color be not touching in adjacentlines, or by other puzzle targets as will become apparent from thedisclosure in the hereinafter specification.

Still a further object of this invention is to provide a gameboardwherein the playing lanes are in slots provided by spaced apart parallelledges, each of progressively shorter length progressing inwardly fromthe outer side, the ledges stopping short of touching each other attheir ends, thus providing diagonal alleys, which alleys are imprintedwith representations of the particular ends shapes of the playing piecesthat must be played in such locations, and wherein the playing piecesare provided with depending projections or feet to extend between thespaced 3,402,934 Patented Sept. 24, 1968 apart ledges and thus keep thepieces from accidentally being slid away from their playing lanes.

A further object of this invention is to provide a puzzle game, playableby one, two, three or four players, against time or in competition, andwhich will be enjoyed by players of all ages and both sexes.

A further object of this invention is to provide playing pieces whichmay carry identifying indicia, such as numbers one to fourteen for thefourteen different shapes and sizes, on the bottom of the pieces wherethe indicia is not visible during play, so that the completed resultsmay be compared with prescribed targets, and also for recording newpuzzle targets discovered by the players.

In brief, the puzzle game includes a square gameboard of four isoscelestrapezoid playing areas meeting each other along their angular sides indiagonal alleys which are imprinted with designs corresponding to theshapes of the ends of the pieces that must be played in such locations,there being eight successively shorter playing lanes in each areaprovided by slots between parallel spaced apart ledges, each stoppingshort of touching the ledges in the adjacent areas, thus providing theaforesaid alleys, the innermost and outermost ledges being provided onan inner and an outer frame on the gameboard. The playing pieces consistof fourteen diiferent playing pieces to a complete set, with fourdifferent colored sets, thus making a minimum of fifty-six diiferentcolored and shaped pieces, with certain pieces further duplicated ingroups of four identical shapes each of a different color, to make acomplete set of one hundred twenty-eight playing pieces, the totallength of the added length of all playing pieces being equal to thetotal added length of all the playing lanes, and the length of eachplaying lane is equal to the added length of the particular pieces to beplyaed thereon, thus making it puzzling to select pieces of the rightlength to cover each playing lane.

A further feature is that the colors can form a number of differentprescribed patterns, and in some solutions, each area may have theidentical number of pieces, and in others the number of pieces in onesolution may be different from the number of pieces in the adjacentareas, yet in each case, every one of the pieces are used, with noneever left over.

With the above and related objects in view, this invention consists inthe details of construction and combination of parts, as will be morefully understood from the following description, when read inconjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a plan view of the puzzle game, with one of the puzzlepatterns fragmentarily illustrated there on.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view on line 2-2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a bottom perspective view of a typical playing piece No. 5.

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the fourteen shapes and sizes of playingpieces, and a table of the total quantity of each piece.

FIGS. 5, 6, 7 and 8 are top plan views of corner fragments of fourdifferent typical puzzle target patterns.

FIG. 9 is a plan view of a two line part of a pattern wherein no twopieces of the same color are in contact with each other.

There is shown at 20 the puzzle game of this invention including arectangular, and preferably square gameboard 22 having four isoscelestrapezoid playing areas 24A, 24B, 24C and 24D. on which preferably onehundred twenty-eight playing pieces, of fourteen different shapes and.four different colors, as illustrated in FIG. 4, are so designed andproportioned that they will exactly cover the eight progressively longerparallel playing lanes 26, 28, 30, 32, 34, 36, 38, 50 inclusive, eachlane being numbered 1-8, provided by slots between seven spaced apartparallel ledges 42 to 54 inclusive and a spaced outer ledge 56 onan'outer frame 58 and a spaced inner ledge 60 on an inner frame 62.

The inner frame '62 provides a non-playing area 64 which may contain-anysuitable identifying indicia, such as a trademark, and any desirableinstructive data, such as simplified rules of play, etc. Each of theledges in each playing area comes close to, but stops short of touchingthe ledge in the adjacent area and thus provide a diagonal alley 66. Onthese alleys 66 there is imprinted designs'68 at the end of each playinglane corresponding to the shapes of the ends of the pieces that are tobe played at the corresponding ends of the playing lanes.

The fourteen individual different playing pieces carry indicatingindicia, preferably the numbers 1 to 14 on the bottom side thereof, asshown in F IG. 3. So as to make it possible to better understand thevarious puzzle solutions satisfying particular puzzle targetshereinafter set forth, these bottom placed numbers are shown as thoughthey were visible on the topside, but preferably, they are not at allvisible from the topside, although they may be if particularly desired.A set of pieces thus consists of fourteen individual elongated pieces,no two of which are the same length and shape. All the pieces are ofequal width, shaped as shown, preferably of a width to completely coverthe playing area when the particular puzzle pattern is solved. The fourpreferred colors are red, yellow, blue and green, and are illustrated asset forth in Symbols for Draftsman in the Patent Office Rules ofPractice. Piece 1 is made in four groups of three identically coloredpieces, the pieces of each group being different from those of eachother group. The number of pieces total one hundred twenty-eight, andeach piece has forty-five degree projections or recesses extendingeither from the end edges, or from the ends of the side edges. Thus, asillustrated, piece 1 has a forty-five degree projection at one end edgeand a forty-five degree projection extends at the other end of one sideedge. There are twelve of these pieces 1, there thus being three each inblue, three each in red, three each in green and three each in yellow.The shapes and colors of the remaining figures are obvious from theillustration and table in FIG. 4.

. In addition, each piece has a depending foot 70, as illustrated inFIG. 3, which drops down between the ad jacent ledges as shown in FIGURE2. Piece 5 in FIG. 3 also shows the preferred manner of providing theidentifying indicia or number on the bottom thereof, so that the numbersare preferably not visible in making up the puzzle patterns, but must belifted up and turned over for identification if necessary. The playingpieces and the gameboard are made of any suitable material, such aswood, plastic, etc.

With the structure thus set forth, it is possible to play eithersolitaire or competitively. When competitively, each player may take aturn, or may play in a contest against time, to arrive at a particularpuzzle target with a pre determined pattern. Four different puzzletargets or patterns are illustrated in part in FIGS. 5, 6, 7 and 8.

The pattern in FIG. 1 is the same as in FIG. 5. In FIG. 1 and FIG. 5,the pattern is a different solid color in each of the four playingareas. There are a number of puzzles which can be made, however, theyall fall into one of the four following groups:

(1) Solid color puzzle group.-It should again be noted that the shape ofeach piece played on both ends of every lane in each area should conformto the markings on the alley 66 on the board.

All thirty-two pieces of one color are played in each of the four areas,one color to each area as shown in FIGS. 1 and 5. It will be noted thatin this solution, all four areas are assembled exactly the same. This isone solution as follows.

4 3 1 s 5 3 4 8-569 5) 1 10 11 s (6) s 11 10 9 7 12-10116 s 13-11 10 4The numbers in parentheses are the numbers of the lanes. (1) is theshortest lane and is closest to the inner square wall; (8) is thelongest lane, nearest to the outer square wall. The remaining numbersindicate What numbered playing pieces make up each lane.

The numbers on each piece identify that piece and show how they were puttogether (on the one hundred twenty-eight pieces the numbers appear onthe underside as shown in FIG. 3). The numbers in all the solutions aremerely for identification purposes, and normally are not visible fromthe top. Following are four more different solutions to the solid colorgroup:

Area 24-A-Blue Area 24BYell0w Area 24CGreen Area 24D'-Red Solid colorpuzzles can be played by one, two, three or four persons. If one personplays, he may use one or more playing areas. He should try to assembleeach area making a different solution. A solution is considereddifferent even if there are only two lines changed from any other area.To make the game more interesting, the player or players may timethemselves if they wish and in any way they choose. There are at leastfifty-seven known different solutions to the solid color group (thisincludes the five solutions submitted). If two or more people play, itwill naturally be more challenging if each one tries to find a differentsolution. Two people may each work on two different areas and timethemselves that way.

(2) Two color puzzle gr0up.(TWO colors per area.) In FIG. 6, solid colorlines alternate, one color every other line. One, two, three or fourpersons can play. There are five different solutions for each area. FIG.6 shows (7) Blu 1261110 (8) Blu 82-'91011 There are at least seven morepatterns in the two color puzzle group, which are workable, but are notbeing included, as it is impractical to include all possible patterns.

(3) Three color puzzle group.(Three colors per area): FIG. 7 is a solidcolor line pattern. One, two, three or four persons can play. There isone solution for each area only, as per the following distribution ofpieces per area: Area 24-A takes the following pieces:

Red Blue Yellow 1ofNo.1 1ofNo.1 1ofN0.2 1oiNo.2 1olNo.5 1ol'No.4 2ofNo.32ofNo.6 1oiNo.5 lofNoA 1otNo.7 1oiNo.6 20fNo.5 1ofNo.8 1ofN0.9 2 of No.6 1 of No. 10 3 of No. 10 1 of N0. 9 1 of No. 11 2 of N0. 11 1 of N0. 121 oiNo. 12 8 Bule 1 of No. 13 11 Red 1 of No. 14

13 Yellow Total of 32 pieces for Area 24-A.

Area 24-A solution (1) Red 1226 2) Red 453-9 3 Red 13--56 (4) Blu 87611(5 Blu 1-10-5-6 (6) Yel 13-11-69 (7 Yel 12105-10 (8) Yel 4-2-14-10-11Area 24-B takes the following pieces:

Red Blue Green 1oiNo.1 2ofN0.1 1ofN0.1 1oiNo.3 lofNo.2 1olN0.2 1oiNo.6301'No.3 1ofN0.6 1ofNo.7 1efNo.4 1ofNo.7 1ofNo.8 1otNo.5 1oINo.8 1 ofNo. 1 of No. 9 3 of N0. 10 2 of N0. 11 1 of No. 10 3 o! No. 11 1ofNo.111olNo.13 8 Beds 1 of No. 14

11 Blues 13 Greens Total of thirty-two pieces for Area 2-1B Area 24-BSolution (1) Blu 1210 (2) Blu 4-5-3-9 3 Blu 1 3 11 3 (4) Red 81167 (5)Red 131110 (6) Grn 13-71011 (7) Grn 11011-10 (8) Grn 82146-11 Area 24-Ctakes the following pieces:

Green Yellow Blue 10lNo.1 1ofNo.1 1ofNo.2 1ofNo.2 10fNo.3 1ofNo.52ofNo.3 2oiNo.6 2ofNo.6 1oiNo.4 10iNo.8 1oiNo.8 20fNo.5 1oiNo.9 1oiNo.92 of No. 6 2 01 No. 11 2 of No. 10 1 of No. 9 2 of No. 11 1 of No. 12 8Yellow 1 of No. 12

11 Green 1 of N0. 14

13 Blue Total of 32 pieces for Area 24-0 Area 24-C solution 1) Grn12-2-6 (2) Grn 4539 (3) Grn 1--3-56 (4) Yel 8113-9 (5) Yel 1611-6 6) Blu13-1465 (7 Blu 12--6-11-10 8 Blu s-2-9 10 11 Area 24-D takes thefollowing pieces:

Yellow Green Red 2ofNo.1 1ofNo.1 1otNo.1 10fNo.2 1ofNo.3 1olNo.2 2oiNo.31ofNo.5 10lNo.6 2oiNo.5 1ofNo.6 1olNo.6 1oiNo.6 1oiNo.8 1ofNo.8 10iNo.71ofNo.9 1ofNo.9 1 of No. 8 l of No. 10 3 of No. 10 1 of No. 10 1 of No.11 2 of No. 11

1 or No. 13 11 Yellow 8 Green 1 of No. 14

13 Red Total of 32 pieces for Area 24-D Area 24-D solution (1) Yel110--2 (2) Yel 8--73-5 (3) Yel 1653 (4) Grn 8113-9 (5) Grn 1-10-5-6 (6)Red 8-14-611 (7) Red 11011-10 (8) Red 1325-109 Another pattern isalternating three colors on each line in each area. Colors of end pieceson both ends of all lines in one area must be different from the colorof end pieces they meet on corresponding lines of both adjoining areas.The puzzle must be assembledso that the pieces of one color do not toucheach other on the same line and also do not touch each other on a linebelow or above. The following solution is the same for all four areas.However, the sequence of colors is different in each area.

Solution Solution v Area 24CTotal of 32 pieces (4) Four color puzzlegroup.--(Four colors per area): In FIG. 8 a pattern is shown of solidcolor lines altera odoem. o eeeaeee o m NNNNN m w NNNNNNN m ea en a Ymanned Y 21131-8 21.11121 9 n w a 13567mHB m. 13456mn n aoeeeede n eododeeao m NNNNNNNN m B m NNNNNNNN m G MMMMMMMM G f MMMMMMMM B 111111118 11111111 8 m n W 3456789H w 3456789n e eee o o o o e e e e m mmN NmNNNm D m NNNNNNNN m Y MMMMMMMM Y L MMMMMMMM R m A n n e daeeaee e aeeeee mNNNNNNN m m NNNNNN m mmmmmmm B a madman a 0 5 M M 2 2 m e T. C a s n wwh a m m a .m w m m 5 mm e a s s r o 4 4 wk 2 v2 n a m e 0 e r nu r 0 841 A a 5 5 m s G 73 4F m F 1 .m e H F 1 1 11 am I 0 .0 H .e .e .w 41 1:Z O S 3 24* h Mmmm 81 1 1 1 1 1 ri d l nd nl an e t d u m u m u r u 61 61 e e e r. 6 1 s mm RBYGBRGY YGRBGYB Another pattern is provided byalternating four colors on each line in each area.

The puzzle must be assembled so that pieces of one color do not toucheach other on the same line and also do not touch each other on a linebelow or above. Colors of end pieces on both ends of all lines in onearea must be different from the color of end pieces they meet oncorresponding lines of both adjoining areas. The following solution isthe same for all four areas, however the sP- quence of colors isdifferent in each area:

When the ends of two pieces of the same color on adjoining lines meet toform a diagonal break, they are not considered to be touching, as shownin FIG. 9. There are six additional patterns in the four color puzzlegroup which are workable.

This is a non-competitive puzzle for one person only.

Green Breakdown for FIG. 8:

Area 24-A-total of 31 pieces Red 8 Red 13-2--9611 1 Blu 122-6 2 Yel s s-3-7 3 Grn 13-5-6 4 Yel 4-11-69 5 Red 1-10-5-6 (6) Grn .13--7-1011 7 Red1-10-11 10 8 Blu s*-2-9-10-11 2 Red s-7 s-s There has thus beendisclosed a sufiicient number of different patterns and their solutionsto constitute a complete disclosure of the invention, and additionalsolutions are possible as above set forth, and the player can work outsuch additional solutions and, using the numbers on the playing pieces,can record such additional solutions,

NNNNNN m Manama o 8 NNNNNNN m Manama B NNNNNNN m Manama R for futureuse, in the manner above set forth. However, it is obviously impossibleto herein set forth all possible solutions, as there well may be manymore solutions than known at present, but coming within the invention.

As shown by the above examples, all solutions provide a similar patternin each of the four areas. In some, all the areas use the same number ofplaying pieces; in other solutions, some areas use more playing piecesthan others, but in every solution, all the one hundred twenty-eightpieces must be used up, for each playing lane is equal in Blue Red

Green Area 24-B-total of 32 pieces Yellow length to the added length ofthe pieces to be played thereon, and the added length of all the playinglanes in NNNNNNNN MMMMMMMM NNNNNNN m m m m m m m Y the four areas addsup to the same total length of the one hundred twenty-eight playingpieces. In the drawings, like numbers refer to] ike parts, and

for the purposes of explication, marshaled below are the numbered partsof the improved Puzzle Game:

20-puzzle game 22game board 24A--isosceles trapezoid playing area24B--isosceles trapezoid playing area 24C-isosceles trapezoid playingarea 24-D-isosceles trapezoid playing area 26--shortest playing lanenumbered 1 28next longer playing lane numbered 2 30-next longer playinglane numbered 3 32next longer playing lane numbered 4 34-next longerplaying lane numbered 36--next longer playing lane numbered 6 38-nextlonger playing lane numbered 7 40-next longer playing lane numbered 8(longest playing lane) 42longest spaced apart ledge (on outer frame 58)44next shorter ledge 46next shorter ledge 48next shorter ledge 50-nextshorter ledge 52next shorter ledge 54-next shorter ledge 56spaced apartouter ledge 58outer frame 60-shortest ledge (on inner frame 62) 62-innerframe 64non-playing area within 62 66diagonal alleys 68imprinted designof ends of playing pieces to be played thereon Although this inventionhas been described in considerable detail, such description is intendedas being illustrative rather than limiting, since the invention may bevariously embodied, and the scope of the invention is to be determinedas claimed.

Having thus set forth and disclosed the nature of this invention, whatis claimed is:

1. A puzzle game comprising a game board and a plurality of playingpieces to be placed thereon, said gameboard havig four playing areas,each playing area being in the shape of an isosceles trapezoid, saidareas touching each other along their non-parallel sides and providing arectangular figure with their longest sides outermost and their shortestsides innermost, each playing area having a plurality of elongatedplaying piece receiving playing lanes progressively increasing in lengthfrom said innermost shortest side to its outermost longest side, saidplaying pieces being a group of various elongated shapes and lengthswith the length of the longest pieces being no longer than the length ofthe shortest playing lanes, the added length of all said playing piecesbeing equal to the added length of all said piece receiving lanes.

2. The puzzle game of claim 1, the length of each lane being equal tothe added length of a subgroup of selected pieces.

3. The puzzle game of claim 2, the added length of all the subgroupsbeing equal to said added length of all of said lanes.

4. The puzzle game of claim 3, said pieces being depicted in a pluralityof colors, each different color being applied to at least one piece ofeach different shape and length, each piece having a single colorthereon, each piece having forty-five degree angular recesses orprojections on its opposite ends, some of said recesses and some of saidprojections extending from the side edges of some of said piece at theirend, the other recesses and projections extending from the end edges,the playing pieces having a plurality of groups of fourteen individualpieces, each piece in one group being of the same color, there being atleast four subgroups each with a color different from the colors of theother three groups, and certain pieces being further duplicated in eachof the four different colors, there being thirty-two pieces of eachcolor thus making a total of one hundred twenty-eight playing pieces,said playing lanes being provided by slots between upstanding parallelspaced apart intermediate ledges on said gameboard, each playing piecebeing of a width to extend into substantial contact with a piece in anadjacent lane, and having a depending foot on its underside to extendinto the slot between said ledges, each intermediate ledge stop ingshort at each end of its lane thereby providing a diagonal alleyextending at forty-five degrees thereto, and an identical series ofdesigns in each alley corresponding to the complementary end shapes ofthe contacting pieces to be used at the ends of said playing lanes, eachof the fourteen individual pieces having different identifying indiciaon the bottom thereof, there being eight playing piece receiving lanesprovided by an outer frame ledge, an inner frame ledge, and sevenintermediate spaced apart parallel ledges.

5. The puzzle game of claim 1, said piece being depicted in a pluralityof colors, each different color being applied to at least one piece ofdifferent shape and length.

6. The puzzle game of claim 5, each piece having a single color thereon.

7. The puzzle game of claim 5, the playing pieces having a plurality ofgroups of fourteen individual pieces, each piece in one group being ofthe same color, there being at least four subgroups each With a colordifferent from the colors of the other three groups.

8. The puzzle game of claim 7, and certain pieces being furtherduplicated in each of the four different colors.

9. The puzzle game of claim 8, there being thirty-two pieces of eachcolor thus making a total of one hundred twenty-eight playing pieces.

10. The puzzle game of claim 7, each of the fourteen individual pieceshaving different identifying indicia on the bottom thereof.

11. The puzzle game of claim 1, each piece having forty-five degreeangular recesses or projections on its opposite ends.

12. The puzzle game of claim 11, some of said recesses and some of saidprojections extending from the side edges of some of said pieces attheir ends, the other recesses and projections extending from the endedges.

13. The puzzle game of claim 1, said playing lanes being provided byslots between upstanding parallel Spaced apart intermediate ledges onsaid gameboard, each playing piece being of a Width to extend intosubstantial contact with a piece in an adjacent lane, and having adepending foot on its underside to extend into the slot between saidledges.

14. The puzzle game of claim 13, each intermediate ledge stopping shortat each end of its lane thereby providing a diagonal alley extending atforty-five degrees thereto, and an identical series of designs in eachalley corresponding to the complementary end shapes of the contactingpieces to be used at the ends of said playing lanes.

15. The puzzle game of claim 13, there being eight playing piecereceiving lanes provided by an outer frame ledge, an inner frame ledge,and seven intermediate spaced apart parallel ledges.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 713,638 11/1902 Hepfinger.2,188,480 1/1940 Murray 273- 2,339,074 l/1944 Hogan 273-157 2,453,29011/1948 Wetzel 273-157 X 3,191,937 6/1965 Kropinski 27313O ANTON O.OECHSLE, Primary Examiner.

1. A PUZZLE GAME COMPRISING A GAME BOARD AND A PLURALITY OF PLAYINGPIECES TO BE PLACED THEREON, SAID GAMEBOARD HAVING FOUR PLAYING AREAS,EACH PLAYING AREA BEING IN THE SHAPE OF AN ISOSCELES TRAPEZOID, SAIDAREAS TOUCHING EACH OTHER ALONG THEIR NON-PARALLEL SIDES AND PROVIDING ARECTANGULAR FIGURE WITH THEIR LONGEST SIDES OUTERMOST AND THEIR SHORTESTSIDES INNERMOST, EACH PLAYING AREA HAVING A PLURALITY OF ELONGATEDPLAYING PIECE RECEIVING PLAYING LANES PROGRESSIVELY INCREASING IN LENGTHFROM SAID INNERMOST SHORTEST SIDE TO ITS OUTERMOST LONGEST SIDE, SAIDPLAYING PIECES BEING A GROUP OF VARIOUS ELONGATED SHAPES AND LENGTHSWITH THE LENGTH OF THE LONGEST PIECES BEING NO LONGER THAN THE LENGTH OFTHE SHORTEST PLAYING LANES, THE ADDED LENGTH OF ALL SAID PLAYING PIECESBEING EQUAL TO THE ADDED LENGTH OF ALL SAID PIECE RECEIVING LANES.